On the morning of June 28, the 2023 1st Sino‑French Scientists Forum on Translational Oncology opened at the Beijing International Convention Center under the theme Strengthening Sino‑Western Medical Cooperation for Mutual Learning Among Civilizations. More than 100 participants, including experts and scholars from relevant fields in China and France, as well as heads of scientific research institutions and high‑tech enterprises, attended the event.

Guided by the French Embassy in China and the Chinese Health Management Association, the Forum was co‑hosted by Beijing Global Talent Exchange Promotion Association — a social organization with special consultative status with the United Nations — and the University of Picardie Jules Verne in Amiens, hometown of French President Emmanuel Macron. It was co‑organised by Beijing Royal Integrative Chinese‑Western Medicine Hospital and Hospitals of Hauts‑de‑France in France. The Forum aims to earnestly implement the consensus reached at the April meeting between Chinese and French Heads of State as well as the Sino‑French Joint Statement, carry forward Sino‑French friendship, mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in the following year, boost personnel exchanges and technical cooperation in life sciences and healthcare, particularly translational oncology, bring benefits to the Chinese and French peoples, and advance global development, peace and mutual learning among civilizations.

At the opening ceremony, Zhao Jinjun, former Chinese Ambassador to France and former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sun Da, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Party Secretary‑General of China Charity Federation and former Deputy Director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Tu Zhitao, Member of the Party Leadership Group of Beijing Municipal Health Commission and Director of Beijing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Zhou Hua, Vice‑President and Secretary‑General of the Chinese Health Management Association; and Pascal FRADCOURT, Honorary Deputy Mayor of Amiens, France, delivered speeches and spoke highly of the Forum. Keynote speeches were given by Denis POSTEL, Vice‑President for Research and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Picardie Jules Verne; Liu Xinmin, Chief Physician, former Party Secretary and former President of Peking University First Hospital; and Pan Jun, Chairperson of Beijing Royal Public Welfare Foundation. An inauguration ceremony was held for the establishment of the Sino‑French Expert Committee for Greater Health and the unveiling of the Centre for Sino‑Western Medical Technology Transfer and Achievement Transformation.

This was followed by the round‑table forum Sino‑French Medical Innovation and Cooperation, moderated by Professor Su Bin, Director of the Beijing Key Laboratory for AIDS Research at Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Distinguished Expert and one of the first batch of Sino‑French Distinguished Young Researchers supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Six distinguished Chinese and French experts took part in discussions: Ingrid MARCQ, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Picardie Jules Verne, expert in nutrition and cancer and head of Group 70 of the European NACRe Network; Hafida KHORSI‑CAUET, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Picardie Jules Verne, specialist in gut microbiota and cancer and lead for international cooperation programmes of the Faculty of Medicine; Loïc Garçon, Professor at the University of Picardie Jules Verne, Academic Vice‑Dean of the University Hospital Centre and Director of the Haematology‑Genetics Laboratory and the Haematopoiesis‑Immunology Laboratory; Li Hongjun, Deputy Chair of the Department of Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Director of the Radiology Department of Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chief Imaging Expert of the National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Infectious Disease Radiology Committee under the Chinese Society of Radiology; Shen Zhiwei, President of the Internet Hospital and Director of the International Medical Centre of Beijing Royal Integrative Chinese‑Western Medicine Hospital and renowned healthcare expert; and Chen Xinyi, Director of the General Internal Medicine Department and Director of the Oncology‑Haematology Department at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. They shared insights on topics such as medical‑tech innovation and technology‑transfer cooperation.

The Forum featured several notable highlights: First, a well‑defined theme focused on mutual learning. Centred on Strengthening Sino‑Western Medical Cooperation for Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, the Forum took translational oncology as its entry point. Leveraging the respective strengths of Chinese and Western medicine, exchanges through forums and presentations promote integrated development for the wellbeing of Chinese and French peoples and contribute to a global community of health for all.

Second, it demonstrated the dynamic vitality of Sino‑French people‑to‑people and cultural exchanges. Since the resumption of bilateral cultural exchanges, Sino‑French cooperation has flourished with great momentum. As an old saying goes, “State relations thrive through friendship between peoples, and friendship between peoples stems from heartfelt bonds.” Nearly 1,000 experts and scholars from Chinese and French universities, research institutes and social organisations rallied around shared goals. Supported by competent authorities on both sides and warmly embraced by society, the event further deepened Sino‑French cultural and people‑to‑people ties.

Third, it was pragmatic and results‑oriented. In addition to the opening ceremony and round‑table discussion, online and offline academic presentations as well as expert‑led project‑matching sessions were arranged. Following the Beijing event, French experts travelled by high‑speed rail to the Yangtze River Delta to visit and hold exchange‑and‑cooperation meetings at friendship‑symbolising institutions including the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and the First Hospital of Jiaxing. These activities are instrumental to carrying forward Sino‑French friendship and advancing further opening‑up and collaboration in medical sciences.